Baseball glove having protective rib

ABSTRACT

A baseball glove includes a glove body including a palm side panel that has a ball-catching region, and a back side panel interconnected to the palm side panel to define a hand-receiving chamber. The hand-receiving chamber has an opening that is adapted for insertion of a player&#39;s hand therein, and includes finger sections adapted for insertion of fingers of the player therein. A plurality of spaced-apart protective ribs project outwardly from the back side panel, and extend respectively along back sides of the finger sections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 095215238, filed on Aug. 28, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a glove, more particularly to a baseball or softball glove.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional baseball glove 1 has a glove body 10 including a palm side panel 11 that has a ball-catching region 111, and a back side panel 12 connected to the palm side panel 11 and cooperating with the same to define a hand-receiving chamber. The hand-receiving chamber has an opening 13 for insertion of a player's hand therein, and includes finger sections 121 for insertion of the player's fingers therein.

When fielding a ball, portions of the back side panel 12 corresponding to the finger sections 121 frequently come in contact with the ground to thereby absorb a great impact with the ground. This may result in injury to the player's fingers. Further, the conventional baseball glove 1 cannot endure continuous impact with the ground, so that it has a very short service life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a baseball glove that has a strong structure and that has a long service life.

According to this invention, a baseball glove comprises a glove body and a plurality of spaced-apart protective ribs. The glove body includes a palm side panel that has a ball-catching region, and a back side panel interconnected to the palm side panel to define a hand-receiving chamber. The hand-receiving chamber has an opening that is adapted for insertion of a player's hand therein, and includes finger sections adapted for insertion of fingers of the player therein. The protective ribs project outwardly from the back side panel, and extend respectively along back sides of the finger sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a conventional baseball glove;

FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the conventional baseball glove;

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the preferred embodiment of a baseball glove according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the preferred embodiment of a baseball glove 2 according to the present invention is shown to comprise a glove body 21 and a plurality of spaced-apart protective ribs 42.

The glove body 21 includes a palm side panel 3 and aback side panel 4 interconnected to each other to define a hand-receiving chamber. The hand-receiving chamber has an opening 40 that is adapted for insertion of a player's hand therein, and includes five finger sections 41 adapted for insertion of the player's fingers therein. The palm side panel 3 has a ball-catching region 31.

The protective ribs 42 project outwardly from the back side panel 4, and extend respectively from top back sides of the finger sections 41 toward the opening 40. In this embodiment, each of the protective ribs 42 is an elongated embossment protruding from the back side panel 4 of the glove body 21 and having a peripheral root 421 that does not protrude from the back side panel 4. The protective ribs 42 are made by embossing a leather piece using a die, after which the peripheral root 421 of each protective rib 42 is sewn so as to form a stitching line 422 that is looped along the peripheral root 421 of the respective protective rib 42 and to fix the shape of each protective rib 421. The stitching line 422 on each protective rib 42 can prevent an external force from flattening the respective protective rib 421. The protective ribs 42 can be made using other technique known in the art, and the formation thereof is not limited to the above disclosure.

Through the protrusion of the protective ribs 42 on the back sides of the respective finger sections 41, when a player catches a ball, and falls to and rolls along the ground, an impact force between the baseball glove 2 and the ground will spread from each finger section 41 along the protective ribs 42 toward the entire back side panel 4 so that the baseball glove 2 can absorb a large impact force. Hence, each finger of the player can be protected from direct impact with an external force that can lead to injuries of the player's fingers, and the service life of the baseball glove 2 can be prolonged. Further, through the presence of the protective ribs 42 on the back sides of the respective finger sections 41, the structure and appearance of the baseball glove 2 can be enhanced.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A ball glove comprising: a glove body including a palm side panel that has a ball-catching region, and a back side panel interconnected to said palm side panel to define a hand-receiving chamber, said hand-receiving chamber having an opening that is adapted for insertion of a player's hand therein, and including finger sections adapted for insertion of fingers of the player therein; and a plurality of spaced-apart protective ribs projecting outwardly from said back side panel, said protective ribs extending respectively along back sides of said finger sections; wherein each of said protective ribs is an elongated embossment protruding from said back side panel, formed as one piece with said back side panel, and having a root that does not protrude from said back side panel, said back side panel further having a stitching line looping along said root.
 2. (canceled)
 3. A ball glove comprising: a glove body including a palm side panel that has a ball-catching region, and a back side panel interconnected to said palm side panel to define a hand-receiving chamber, said hand-receiving chamber having an opening that is adapted for insertion of a player's hand therein, and including finger sections adapted for insertion of fingers of the player therein; and a plurality of spaced-apart protective ribs projecting outwardly from said back side panel, said protective ribs extending respectively along back sides of said finger sections; wherein said protective ribs are formed by embossing said back side panel and by providing a stitching line around a respective one of said protective ribs after embossing so as to set the shape of the respective one of said protective ribs.
 4. A baseball glove comprising: a glove body including a palm side panel that has a ball-catching region, and a back side panel interconnected to said palm side panel to define a hand-receiving chamber, said hand-receiving chamber having an opening that is adapted for insertion of a player's hand therein, and including finger sections adapted for insertion of fingers of the player therein; a plurality of spaced-apart, elongated, embossed protective ribs protruding away from said back side panel and extending along back sides of said finger sections, each protective rib forming along its periphery a peripheral root that does not protrude from said back side panel; and stitching along said peripheral root securing the protective rib to the back side panel, fixing the shape of the protective rib, and preventing external forces from flattening the protective leather rib. 